117.
At least one person, the minimum guest for a wedding, was secured. Next, Haseo met with Jeong Heejun and Ryu Jiyeon. He wasn’t sure how to bring up the topic with Heejun, knowing too well how much he disliked Choi Mujin.
“Wow, I’m even eating a meal you’re treating me to.”
Heejun smiled brightly as he twirled pasta around his fork.
“Mmm, that’s right.”
Jiyeon seemed to have noticed that Haseo had something to say, but she didn’t interfere. So now it was entirely Haseo’s responsibility to confess the truth to Heejun.
“Heejun.”
Haseo called his name with firm resolve. Heejun, who was drinking his ade, looked at him with wide eyes.
“Hmm?”
“Actually, the reason I called you today is…”
“Mmm.”
I wish he would stop drinking that ade. With an ominous feeling, Haseo leaned back slightly and continued.
“To invite you to my wedding.”
“Pfft!”
As expected, Heejun sprayed the ade he was drinking like a mister.
“Cough! Cough!”
Jiyeon quickly patted Heejun’s back as he coughed. Then she handed him a handkerchief, which he used to wipe his mouth before staring at Haseo with a blank expression.
“We-wedding? You? When? No, with whom?”
“Umm, the person you know.”
As soon as those words fell, Heejun’s expression crumpled horribly.
“Hey!”
After coughing a few more times, Heejun continued with a rapid stream of curses about Mujin.
“Are there no other people to marry that you have to choose that inhuman bastard! Half the world is men, and there are many more decent guys than him! I oppose this marriage. How could you marry such a guy? Just date, just date. And if you meet someone better, break up!”
“Oppa.”
Jiyeon, unable to listen anymore, carefully spoke up.
“Still, if they have feelings for each other, I don’t think it’s right to oppose it blindly.”
“No, but you know what kind of man he is!”
At that, even Jiyeon frowned slightly. However, she didn’t seem to have any intention of expressing opposition like Heejun. Seeing her calmly saying that Mujin had good points too, it was clear.
“His personality may be like that, but he doesn’t lack in other qualities. He’s handsome too.”
“More than me?”
“In my eyes, you’re the best, oppa. But objectively speaking, Director Choi is handsome too. And most importantly, they love each other.”
“But still, why him of all people?”
Heejun sighed with a gloomy face. Since he seemed much calmer than before, Haseo handed him the wedding invitation he had prepared in advance. Heejun examined the contents carefully and then opened his eyes wide when he saw the venue.
“Denmark?”
“Can you free up time then?”
“I can, but…”
“We’ve agreed to provide the airfare and hotel costs.”
“No, it’s fine. How could I miss my friend’s wedding?”
“Can Ms. Ryu Jiyeon come along as well?”
Jiyeon nodded when he handed her another invitation. Come to think of it, their relationship seemed to have deepened more than expected; Haseo wondered if they might suddenly announce their own marriage someday.
Haseo successfully invited the two people he was most worried about. After that, it was easy.
Jung Nara said she would come since she hadn’t found a job yet, and Nam Bora and Lee Yuin from the academy also agreed. Bora and Yuin, still being students, seemed concerned about the money, but when told everything would be covered, they nodded excitedly.
“Wow, it’s my first time going to Denmark!”
“Mine too.”
Securing five guests made Haseo feel more at ease. Since it was a small wedding, five people should be enough. He would have to ask Mujin later about who he had invited.
“Park Dongsu, Seo Miso, and Kim Chunbong.”
The number of people Mujin said he would invite was even fewer than Haseo’s. Plus, they were people whose faces Haseo had seen a few times, so there shouldn’t be any awkwardness.
“Don’t you have anyone else to invite?”
“Not really.”
That meant a total of eight guests.
“By the way, can you free up time tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow? After academy, I’m free.”
“Then let’s go get fitted for wedding suits.”
“Alright.”
“And then we need to choose new rings too.”
“What? But we already have rings.”
“I told you those were engagement rings. Wedding rings are different.”
Though he had mentioned it in passing, it seemed he really intended to get another set of rings.
“Won’t that cost too much?”
At Haseo’s words, Mujin silently picked up his tablet and showed him the screen. After seeing his bank balance again, Haseo’s mind was at peace. Right, getting another ring would hardly make a dent in that balance.
“And where should we go for our honeymoon?”
“Honeymoon?”
“Yes, do you prefer Asia, or Europe?”
Somehow things seemed to be escalating.
“If we’re going on a honeymoon, I’ll have to take a break from the academy.”
“How many days are you thinking for the honeymoon?”
“We should set aside about ten days to have a good time, don’t you think?”
His casual answer made Haseo’s head spin. The wedding itself would cost an enormous amount, and now it seemed the honeymoon would be extravagant too.
‘Oh well, whatever.’
Haseo decided to let everything go.
“I’ve always wanted to visit hot springs.”
“So Japan?”
“Sounds good. We can eat plenty of sashimi while we’re there.”
“Hmm. Not bad. But since it would be boring to stay at hot springs for all ten days, shall we go somewhere else for half the time?”
With that, he handed over several travel guidebooks. Maldives, Bali, Phuket, Santorini, Boracay, and more. All were beautiful seaside resorts.
Though the flight times were long, Haseo had never been abroad except when running away, so his interest was piqued.
“But I don’t know which place is good.”
“Take your time choosing. We still have time.”
Haseo wasn’t sure if that could be called “having time.” Instead of sighing, he quickly skimmed through the travel guidebooks. Then he pointed to one place and showed it to Mujin, who nodded.
“Boracay. Good choice.”
“Have you been there before?”
“No, I’m not really the type to enjoy vacations, so it’s my first time too.”
Haseo had thought Mujin would know everything well. The fact that there were things he was experiencing for the first time too made Haseo’s heart race. Actually, come to think of it, marriage itself was a first for both of them. Haseo smiled broadly and pounced on Mujin, who was sitting on the sofa, hugging him.
“I’m looking forward to the wedding.”
At Haseo’s words, Mujin returned a gentle smile.
The suit shop they went to for wedding attire was no ordinary place.
“It looks like only rich people would come here.”
Haseo whispered in Mujin’s ear, straightening his back.
“That’s not wrong.”
This was supposedly a place that wouldn’t make suits for anyone who wasn’t a celebrity or wealthy. An employee came out to measure both of them, showing fabrics and various styles of suits while providing explanations.
“For color, white would be best, right?”
“Umm.”
It didn’t seem like he had felt this nervous even when handing out wedding invitations to acquaintances. The thought of actually being fitted for clothes to wear at the wedding made his whole body twist with anxiety. Haseo knew nothing about suits and could only nod along, but Mujin adjusted the options quite meticulously.
“Then we will proceed as discussed.”
The suits would be ready in a week, they said.
“That’s not as long as I expected.”
At Haseo’s words, Mujin looked at him with a peculiar expression.
“You think so?”
“You’re right. I used money and connections to move us up in the queue. This shop usually takes about a month.”
“My goodness.”
Does this person want to marry him that quickly? Haseo blushed with shyness.
The days passed busily yet smoothly as they prepared for the wedding. Though some people experience “marriage blues” before the wedding, Haseo did not. This was because Mujin handled most of the tasks, and all Haseo had to do was nod at what he wanted.
From selecting the wedding venue to choosing someone to officiate, interior decorations, and even the food to be served to guests. Mujin did the work to minimize Haseo’s involvement.
“Isn’t it difficult doing everything by yourself?”
Haseo had asked this after belatedly realizing how many preparations were needed for a wedding.
“I’m marrying a man who’s younger, cuter, and cooler than me, so shouldn’t I do at least this much?”
The answer that came back was more embarrassing than expected. He didn’t seem like that kind of person originally. Just as Haseo had changed, Mujin had changed a lot too.
And so, on September 5th, the two stood at the airport.
They were leaving early due to wedding preparations, and the rest of the people were scheduled to arrive on the 6th. As always, the person leading them would be Park Dongsu.
“I’m not sure if it’s okay to ask him to do this.”
At Haseo’s embarrassed words, Mujin nodded as if it was fine.
“I’m paying him enough salary for it, so it’s okay. He also wanted to do it.”
“Really?”
“Yes. So don’t worry about it now. Everyone will arrive safely.”
And with that, Haseo boarded the plane with Mujin.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
